Binder Park Zoo welcomes baby red panda, Zin

BATTLE CREEK — A new bundle of fur is stealing the hearts of staff and visitors alike at Binder Park Zoo.

Zin, a baby red panda cub born June 24, can be seen during normal zoo hours in the nursery window on the outside of the vet hospital off the walking path from the tram depot.

Since 4 weeks old, Zin has been hand-raised by Binder Park's dedicated vet and animal care staff after discovering her mom was no longer able to produce enough milk due to health issues. Her mom, Binsa, has since made a full recovery and staff hope to reunite the pair in a couple months when Zin has transitioned from requiring formula to eating solid foods.

“We make every effort to keep mothers and their babies together, but sometimes the medical needs of one, or both, require us to make the difficult decision to remove a baby for hand-rearing," Dr. Kim Thompson, staff veterinarian at Binder Park Zoo, said in a release.

Red pandas are an endangered species native to the lush forests of the Himalayas and southwestern China. Zin's birth is a significant event in both Binder Park Zoo’s conservation efforts and the broader fight to protect these animals.

Under the watchful eyes of the veterinary staff, Zin's every need is being met, from her specialized diet to her developmental milestones. Prior to her arrival, local organization Puppywarmer donated a new incubator, oxygen concentrator, and other supplies, helping provide Zin with the necessary care she needed during her early weeks.

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The public will have the opportunity to follow Zin's journey through regular updates on the zoo's social media channels.

"We want to share Zin's progress with the world," Diane Thompson, president and CEO of Binder Park Zoo, said in the release. "It's a positive story about the unwavering commitment and care the zoo’s staff provides for all of our animals."

Binder Park Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Fall hours for the zoo are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and begin Tuesday.

The nonprofit at 7400 Division Drive in Battle Creek is one of Michigan's largest zoos, with more than 200 animals on the 433-acre property, and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

For more information, visit binderparkzoo.org.

Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com